Physio Explains: Physio For Sciatica
Can Physio Help Sciatica?
Can physio help sciatica? It’s a question many people ask, and for many people the answer is yes. Physiotherapy may help reduce symptoms of sciatica, and may help reduce the risk of a recurrence or flare-up. In this blog post, I will explore how physio may help with sciatica.
I am a physiotherapist at Dublin Chiropractic & Physiotherapy – and we treat back pain and sciatica. If you have any questions about physiotherapy for your back pain and sciatica, please don’t hesitate to contact us at (01) 575 2623. Or check out our blogs on low-back pain and sciatica for some more information on the conditions, and ways of managing them.
Relief From Sciatica
Physio aims to reduce that nagging, persistent sciatic pain that shoots down the leg, and is often accompanied by lower back pain and weakness in the leg and foot.
Physio for these symptoms usually combines exercise therapy with hands-on therapies, like muscle release techniques and massage, which some people find help them move more freely with less pain.
Additionally, at Dublin Chiropractic & Physiotherapy we also offer spinal decompression and laser therapy.
Physio Goals And Sciatica
Setting timely and individual goals is so important in the rehabilitation of sciatica. Whether you are an elite athlete or a weekend warrior, we will set realistic goals with you for your recovery.
The main goal for physio treatment of sciatica is relief from pain and restoring function. And then it’s up to you to continue the physio exercises in between sessions to help reduce the chance of your sciatica coming back or flaring up again – build resilience.
What Is Sciatica And How Does It Affect The Body?
The sciatic nerve is the longest and widest single nerve in your body, and it’s about an inch wide. It starts from a bundle of nerves at the low back, which branches down into each leg through openings between each of your vertebrae (spinal segments), and runs into the foot. It controls muscle function of the hamstrings, buttocks, and lower leg muscles.
Sciatica can be caused by pressure or irritation to this nerve, which may occur in the low back (lumbar spine). Some of the most common causes include disc herniation, a degenerated disc on one side pressing on the sciatic nerve root as it exits from the spinal canal, degenerative disc disease which causes bulging of the nucleus pulposus into the spinal canal, or nerve compression at the level of the butt muscles (glutes), i.e piriformis syndrome.
If you have sciatica symptoms that are causing pain and affecting your ability to function – physio may help. If you’re not sure if physio is right for you or if you are unsure if sciatica is what you are experiencing, check out our blog for more information on sciatica.
How Can Physiotherapy And Prevention Of Future Episodes?
Physiotherapy for sciatica uses a combination of hands-on therapies such as massage therapy, manual physio stretching techniques, and specific exercises.
As well as physio, we also offer spinal decompression (mechanical traction). The research on traction for back pain and sciatica is limited, and clinical guidelines don’t recommend it as a routine treatment. We only use it as an optional addition to an exercise-based plan, review it at the sixth visit, and stop if it isn’t helping.
Continuing to exercise may also help reduce the chance of a future flare-up.
An Exercise To Help Extreme Sciatic Pain
Sciatica can be so frustrating and intense, hugely distributing sleep and daily activities. You just need relief and fast, because nothing seems to work.
An exercise you can try at home, that I often prescribe to my clients in the clinic is known as sciatica ‘nerve flossing’, and I generally recommend doing it lying on your back.
Lie on your back and bring the leg with the shooting pain up to 90 degrees, so your hip and knee are at 90 degrees. Then straighten your knee a little and bring your toes towards until you feel a stretch in the back of your leg, release the stretch by pushing your toes away or bending your knee slightly, then again straighten your knee a little and bring your toes towards you to bring on a slight stretch, and then again release the stretch, and repeat 10-15 times, and then relax. You may find your shooting pain has eased; if the exercise increases your pain, stop and check with your physiotherapist.
Talk To A Physiotherapist About Sciatica
If you are experiencing a lot of lower back pain and sciatica, and have experienced a few episodes of this pain, maybe it is time to see a professional.
At Dublin Chiropractic & Physiotherapy we treat lower back pain and sciatica. We will perform a thorough assessment and formulate a unique and individually tailored treatment plan, based on your history, goals, and movement behavior.
We are located in Dun Laoghaire, Dublin, Ireland. Free parking is available at the back of the building, but spaces are limited and can’t be guaranteed at busy times.
Call us at (01) 575 2623 or book a physio session online.
Seek urgent medical care (GP, A&E, or call 112/999) if you have loss of bladder or bowel control, numbness around the groin or buttocks, progressive leg or arm weakness, or pain with fever, unexplained weight loss, chest pain or breathlessness.